On Blu, the visuals and soundscapes are stunning. On DVD, they are good. Both formats share an exhaustive documentary that, at 119 minutes, runs 29 minutes longer than the brisk feature. You see Yimou’s exacting filmmaking techniques. His bravado is even more impressive because you see he was in pre-production while concurrently planning the opening ceremonies for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Ning Hao’s aptly-named and ill-fated No Man’s Land has seen its release delayed again. Rescheduled for a tentative April release, the film was once again postponed. The film began shooting in May 2009 and originally slated for a December 2009 release. After criticisms from the film review board for having no good characters and too many bad guys, the film has struggled to find approval for its release. Meanwhile, Ning Hao has begun work on a new film for 2011 audiences. (Sina), 2

Poster for the thriller Fatal Invitations (Deadly Invitations) based on a best-selling Japanese novel